A NARRATIVE Of the Great SUCCESS God hath been pleased to give His Highness Forces in Jamaica, against the King of Spain's Forces; Together with a true Relation of the Spaniards losing their PLATE-FLEET, As it was Communicated in a Letter from the Governor of Jamaica.  
Published by His Highness special Command.  
London, Printed by Henry Hills, and John Field, Printers to His Highness. 1658. June 20   

Right Honourable,  
SInce my last to Your Honour, the First of October last, I have had intelligence, that the Galleons with Plate, I then mentioned to be at Carthagena, bound for Spain, were cast away by a Hirecane; and as an evident token thereof, the Burmudans, our Informants, being in a small Shallop, brought in hither about Twenty thousand pieces of Eight, which they had taken in the Rack. And according to my former to the Committee for Jamaica, having by a Prisoner notice, that about Five hundred of the Enemy were landed here, and that the Governor Don Christopher Arnaldo Sasser was fortifying himself at St. Anne, about Thirty five miles from us, I was resolved to give him time to fortify so much, that he might think himself secure enough to stand us, (that we might not perpetually be put to the toil of hunting them in the Woods) and yet so that he might not be able to give us any strong resistance: which accordingly being done, I sent a Party of Stout, Well and Willing men, under the command of Major Richard Steevens, to whom about Sixty of our Officers joined, Volunteers, exceedingly desirous of action (after so long a cessation) who advanced to the place, very strongly situated on a Rock: as soon as the Enemy's Sentinels discovered them, they threw down their Arms, gave the Alarm to the Governor, who with the rest fled to the Woods, leaving behind them all their Arms and Ammunition: so, finding the vanity of following them in the Woods and Mountains, we left them.  
Before our Party came in, our Ships brought in a Portugal running in to Cuba, who examined, told me that there were Five hundred landed about the middle of July, that they had marched up the Country, and finding the scarcity of proviosions, (contrary to what was told them) were almost starved, had endeavoured to mutiny; and that about Three hundred of them were by the Spanish Commanders returned to a place called the Chareras, in the North, over against Cuba, where they first landed, where was their Magazine, and Provisions, and more men and Provisions daily expected, where likewise they were fortified and received their relief, which he had Twice carried them.  
Upon this intelligence, I met the Party coming home, and dismissing about a hundred to their Plantations, (which wanted them) I shipped the rest under the same command, on Board the Indian, and went myself with them for the better carrying on and expediting the business.  
The 24 of October we set Sail from Cagway. point, and the 30 stood over against the place. Early in the morning we spied a Sail from Cuba, running in to the place we were bound for, who had come with relief, but told them he could not unlade himself, because he saw Ships at Sea. Our Party landed Six miles below the place intended, there being no place nearer, and marched on; who ere they had marched Two miles, were saluted with a round Volley out of a Wood, at which ours, prepared for before by their Orders, never made stand, but fired in boldly at the Ambuscado, in which the Enemy had Four wounded, we One; the Captain with the rest made haste to their Fort, and ours so fast after them, that only the Captain, and Four of forty could get in.  
Our Party found them very well prepared with Matches lighted in the Stoccadoes, (for that is the manner of their fortification, with great Trees and Flankers) ours leaving a Third for a reserve, without any gradual approaches, presently ran up to their Work, and with their Muskets possessed as much advantage, as the Enemy, (the Work being not at all Lined) between whom for the space of near Three quarters of an hour, was a stiff dispute, till some of ours with the help of Hatchets, (which they were ordered to carry) made a Breach, and entered; as soon as the Enemy saw that, they betook themselves to run over the Rocks, leaping into the Sea, and shifting for themselves (though the Officers endeavoured to rally them) yet made not such haste, but that they left One hundred and twenty, or thereabouts dead on the place, and many wounded, amongst whom were most of the Officers; the master del Camp Don Francis De Prencia, by means of a Prisoner of ours, whom he kept by him, got quarter, and some others whom we found in the Rocks, (whom though we had received barbarous usage from them) we could not kill in cool blood.  
We took here Thirty three Barrels of Powder, with Match and Bullet proportionable, and good store of Bread and Salt, and likewise their Musters, their Commissaries book; which Powder, and what we took before from the Governor, within less than Two Barrels did balance the Commissaries Account, so that they were wholly deprived of that: And that which did more endear our Success; we had only Four men killed, and about Ten wounded, some whereof I have sent home, and humbly and earnestly desire they may be provided for.  
After I had refreshed the men, I put them aboard again, and with small Parties in several little Boats, Scoured all the Coast, and left them that fled neither Boats not time to get away; since which time some are come in to us almost starved. The Negroes, formerly their Slaves, using them roughly, and denying them Provisions, so that I saw a Letter from Don Francis de Liva, the Deputy-Governour, to one of his former Slaves, woefully bemoaning the condition of his Majesty's Infantry, and giving him the Title of Worship at every word: to such a necessity are they reduced, and we have not been idle to pursue them in all quarters, though we now lie still for want of Shoes, if there should any more of the Enemy come, which we have reason to expect; for that I find by Letters, that the Governor of Cuba, Don Peter de Bayona, being an old Soldier in Italy, doth not only hearty solicit it, but makes a great benefit by it, having received money from the Vice Roy, for the payment of Three Months to the Soldiers, according to their Kings express command, whereof they never received any; and since that, hath received Twenty thousand pieces of Eight from the Vice Roy for levying more men. I shall not fail in my endeavours to prepare for their coming, and doubt not, but that the King of Spain's lessening his Garrisons, may in time produce good effect to our Nation.  
I have sent the master del Camp, the Colours, some Paper and Letters; he is the only man hereabouts, and hath chief advised in this relief, and therefore I hope shall not be released till we are better settled. I had almost forgot to acquaint your Honour, that the Enemy at their first coming, sent a Lieutenant, and two more, to scatter Papers amongst our Soldiers; signifying, that who would come to them, should have fair quarter and transport; who being met withal by some of our Hunters, were all killed, and so that hopeful design of theirs had no effect: And that the Governor of Porto Rico, having set One hundred men to demand some English, living in new jurtola, a Colony of the Dutch, being refused to have them delivered up, was in his return cast away by the Hericane, one only Mulatto escaped. The King of Spain's Affairs do very much fail in these parts, and his Trade is almost brought to nothing, by the many Private Men of War of English and French, and ours are still abroad to annoy them.  
All I have more is, only to entreat your Honour, and all our Friends with us, to magnify the goodness of God, who hath given yet by his glimmering, some hopes, that he altogether hath not forgotten us, but doth, and will at length continue to own his Servants, who trust in him, and to subscribe myself,  
Your most Obedient and Faithful Servant, Edward Doyley. Cagway. Feb. 3. 1657.  
FINIS.